My cousin's driver was taking the children (aged 6 and 4) to school the other morning and was unfortunate to be involved in an accident. He killed someone. A little girl. It was a hit and run.
The details are a bit sketchy but from what I gathered, seconds after the driver realised what had happened, he stepped on the gas and zoomed off with a fleet of motorbikes a.ka. okada racing after him. "Luckily", the roads were free and he was able to out-race them. He eventually got to the house and dropped the children off safely.
I heard this story and after I had gone through a range of emotions, I wondered what had made me so callous about a human being's death. I was sad someone died, anxious that the driver and the children would be caught and certainly would have had jungle justice meted out to them. Relieved that the roads were free and that they were able to get away. If that had been my daughter on the road, I would not have had a different set of emotions. Blinding grief at her death and raging anger that the perp got away. Overall, I was more relieved than anything.
My rational mind would not have minded if the driver got caught and was forced to face the law. However, my Nigerian/Lagos mind that knows how things go knows that if he had been caught. The mob would have burnt the car, given him the devil of all beatings *or even burnt him along with the car* and certainly harmed the children that were in the car with him. At the very least, those children may not have been physically harmed but would not have been able to get home seeing as the driver they were riding with would have been in no state to take them home
I am at a loss as to how to end this post, my feelings and thoughts on the matter are all jumbled up. Jungle justice or saving the lives of 3 people?
The Path I've Been On
4 months ago
Its a delicate issue. Jungle justice or saving the lives of three people.
ReplyDeleteThe driver should have stopped to help the little girl. I know the Okada people have a way of rendering jungle justice at the roadside or the scene of an incident but if the little girl was still alive, then all he would have done would have been to take her to the hospital. Certainly they would not have denied him that?
I would be more confused if I was in your position.
ReplyDeleteItz really sad that a soul was lost, if only the girl did not die.
If he had been caught, it would have been terrible.
Itz possible you would have also lost your cousins.
I think the best thing for you to do now is to pray.
This is truly a delicate issue and puts one at a crossroad on who to support...
ReplyDeleteOh my...this is a confusing one....
ReplyDeleteIt's sad but how do you know that the girl died? Isnt it possible that she was still breathing and a good Nigerian later rushed her to the hospital,I'm just trying to be positive.
ReplyDeleteThat's terrible and couldn't have been easy for him. Sad sad situation.
ReplyDeleteI can totally understand ur feelings at that/this point..I would have felt the same way.Imagine what would have happened to the kids.
ReplyDeletehmmm
ReplyDeletea myraid of emotions flicker thru my mind
and i can't seem to decide which one is right
i'm with u
If it was in another country but Nigeria i will be furious with the driver...
ReplyDeletethey may not burn the kids but right there you will see one samaritan cart the kids away to an unknown forest while the jungle justice of the driver goes on
aiiya, may her soul rest in Peace..Quite unfortunate!
ReplyDeleteDis is sooo sad. May d little girl rest in peace but wow.... i dont know if it was best to run away. So confusing!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a catch 22 situation!
ReplyDeleteHey, r you okay? you didnt reply to the comments on ur post, i havent seen ur comments around blogville, just checking on you.
ReplyDeletewow.. this is indeed a delicate issue. Nigeria street justice is something else. One thing i am glad for is the children's safety.
ReplyDeleteAt age 4/6, i could probably rant off my address but that's about it, couldn't tell you how to get there, or a parent's phone number so who knows what would have happened to your cousins if the driver had been caught and (most likely) killed. Don't beat yourself up over it, it's a shame that our justice system is so warped that pp feel the need to take the law into their own hands with such violent repercussions. I think we could be more productive if we focus on this starting point, and how we can radically rework the system, one step at a time.
ReplyDeleteOh my...is there anyway your family can find the family of the girl and provide an anonymous financial contribution?
ReplyDeleteNa wa oh...
This is really sad. I wish the driver had sent someone back there to help the girl - at least make sure that every effort was made to keep her alive. He took a life and probably won't be accountable for his actions. I understand your dilemma though and I'm glad jungle justice didn't catch up with the little ones.
ReplyDeleteHmm..this is a tough one and I can't even begin to imagine how u feel.
ReplyDeleteWell what has been done is done but i think the driver and your cousin's family shld try and locate the little girl's family to help out or at least ackonwledge what happened. it's hard, guaranteed but it is the right thing to do. The driver acted irresponsibly and should face the consequences.
Glad that your cousin's children are safe.
wow!...that is complex...what do you do?...if at least the people would allow the driver to take the child to the hospital...but then, what's to say that the driver in a hit and run will take the victim to the hospital?...tough situation...i know it's an old post...but an intense one...hopefully you are feeling better about the whole situation...
ReplyDelete